Data were provided by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, Health Intelligence Division, Public Health Wales on request, October 2017. Similar data can be found here: http://www.wcisu.wales.nhs.uk.

About this data

Uterine cancer incidence is related to age, with the highest incidence rates being in older women. In the UK in 2013-2015, on average each year more than a quarter (27%) of new cases were in females aged 75 and over.[1-4]

Age-specific incidence rates rise steeply from around age 45-49 before dropping in the oldest age groups - a slighly different pattern from most cancers. The highest rates are in the 75 to 79 age group.

Uterine Cancer (C54-C55), Average Number of New Cases per Year and Age-Specific Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, Females, UK, 2013-2015

95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits around the AS Rate

For uterine cancer, like most cancer types, incidence increases with age. This largely reflects cell DNA damage accumulating over time. Damage can result from biological processes or from exposure to risk factors. A drop or plateau in incidence in the oldest age groups often indicates reduced diagnostic activity perhaps due to general ill health.

The age distribution of uterine cancer cases probably reflects hormonal changes during and after the menopause.

Data were provided by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, Health Intelligence Division, Public Health Wales on request, October 2017. Similar data can be found here: http://www.wcisu.wales.nhs.uk.

Uterine cancer incidence rates have increased overall in all broad adult age groups in females in the UK since the early 1990s.[1-4] Rates in 25-49s have increased by 36%, in 50-59s have increased by 35%, in 60-69s have increased by 62%, in 70-79s have increased by 85%, and in 80+s have increased by 38%.

For uterine cancer, like most cancer types, incidence trends largely reflect changing prevalence of risk factors and improvements in diagnosis and data recording. Recent incidence trends are influenced by risk factor prevalence in years past, and trends by age group reflect risk factor exposure in birth cohorts.

Data were provided by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, Health Intelligence Division, Public Health Wales on request, October 2017. Similar data can be found here: http://www.wcisu.wales.nhs.uk.

About this data

Overall stage at diagnosis

A high proportion (89-93%) of uterine cancer cases in England and Northern Ireland have stage at diagnosis recorded.[1,2]

Uterine cancer patients with a known stage are most commonly diagnosed at stage I (74-75%). More patients with a known stage are diagnosed at an early stage (81-83% are diagnosed at stage I or II), than a late stage (18-19% are diagnosed at stage III or IV). Between 7% and 8% of uterine cancer patients have metastases at diagnosis (stage IV).[1,2]

The stage distribution for each cancer type will reflect many factors including how the cancer type develops, the way symptoms appear, public awareness of symptoms, how quickly a person goes to see their doctor and how quickly the cancer is recognised and diagnosed by a doctor. It might also relate to whether a national screening programme that can detect early stage disease exists for that cancer type, along with the extent of uptake of that programme.

A cancer type associated with a large proportion of early stage diagnoses could be one that is more likely to be symptomatic at an earlier stage of development, with recognisable symptoms rather than more generic ones.

Data should not be compared between countries due to differences in time periods and possible differences in recording of stage at diagnosis.

Stage at diagnosis by deprivation

Late stage at diagnosis of uterine cancer is not associated with deprivation in England.[3]

Stage at diagnosis by age

Late stage at diagnosis of uterine cancer is more common in adults aged 80+ in England (26% diagnosed at stage III or IV), compared to those aged 60-79 (17% diagnosed at stage III or IV). And younger adults aged 15-59 (13% diagnosed at stage III or IV).[3]

Late stage uterine cancer is also more common in adults aged 60-79 in England (17% diagnosed at stage III or IV) compared to younger adults aged 15-59 (13% diagnosed at stage III or IV).[3]

These patterns by deprivation, age and sex are probably not explained by other demographic differences.[4]

Data is not comparable between countries due to differences in time periods and possible differences in how countries record stage at diagnosis.

The proportions of patients diagnosed late only include cases with a known stage at diagnosis and are not adjusted for other demographics differences (e.g. age, sex, ethnicity) unless stated otherwise.

About this data

Projections are based on observed incidence and mortality rates and therefore implicitly include changes in cancer risk factors, diagnosis and treatment. It is not possible to assess the statistical significance of changes between 2014 (observed) and 2035 (projected) figures. Confidence intervals are not calculated for the projected figures. Projections are by their nature uncertain because unexpected events in future could change the trend. It is not sensible to calculate a boundary of uncertainty around these already uncertain point estimates. Changes are described as 'increase' or 'decrease' if there is any difference between the point estimates.

There is no evidence for an association between uterine cancer incidence and deprivation in England.[1] England-wide data for 2006-2010 show European age-standardised incidence rates are similar for females living in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived.[1]

References

About this data

Data is for: UK, 2006-2010, ICD-10 C54-C55

Deprivation gradient statistics were calculated using incidence data for 2006-2010. The deprivation quintiles were calculated using the Income domain scores from the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) from the following years: 2004, 2007 and 2010. Full details on the data and methodology can be found in the Cancer by Deprivation in England NCIN report.

Age-standardised rates for White females with uterine (womb) cancer range from 16.9 to 17.7 per 100,000. Rates for Asian and Black females are similar ranging from 10.7 to 18.0 per 100,000 and 13.7 to 23.6 per 100,000 respectively.[1] There appears to be no significant variation in uterine (womb) cancer incidence by ethnicity in the UK.

Ranges are given because of the analysis methodology used to account for missing and unknown data. For uterine (womb) cancer, 27,680 cases were identified; 22% had no known ethnicity.

Cancer stats explained

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